Friendship YMCA Swim Team

YMCA Membership Required:

A Youth, Teen, or Family membership to the Harrisburg Area YMCA is required to participate on the Swim Team.

Program Payment:

Program fees may be paid in full or by monthly draft. We do not invoice or allow monthly check payments. The monthly draft is processed on the 15th of each month and a credit card is required.

Cancellation/Withdrawal from Program:

Two-week notice is required. Non-attendance without written cancellation does not relieve you of the responsibility to pay for the program. Bank and Credit Draft participants must have written cancellation submitted by the 1st of the month in order to stop payment on the 15th.

Refunds:

Non-attendance does not entitle you to a refund. Refunds or adjustments are not granted for illness, vacation, or when YMCA programs are canceled due to inclement weather. All refunds or program credits given for other reasons are issued on a prorated basis. The YMCA reserves the right to apply any credit due to other outstanding balances. Refunds are issued within 30 days of cancellation. Registration fees are nonrefundable. Program fees are not refundable after January 1st.

USA Swimming Registration Fees:

USA Swimming Athlete Registration: USA Swimming meets are optional for our swimmers. Those wishing to participate must obtain the USA Swimming Membership directly from USA Swimming. The cost of the registration is $85. The membership year runs from September 1–August 31.

Attendance at USA meets requires a current USA Swimming membership and payment of entry fees charged by the host team. These are typically $10.00 per event. There is also a $5.00 per session per swimmer fee to the YMCA to cover coaching at the meets that we attend with a coach. Questions regarding USA Swimming should be directed to Coach Megan.

Meet Entry Fees:

Meet entry fees are set by the host team and are charged to the swimmer’s account for each meet they enter. A payment method must be maintained on the swimmer’s account and will be charged once entry fees have been sent to the host team or the meet program has been seeded for FSY events, you will be responsible for the entry fees even if you decide not to compete due to personal choice or illness, no exceptions. Lack of knowledge of the meet entry process does not waive meet entry fees. Swimmers who compete in a relay will be charged the entry fee for participation in that event.

This is our beginner level where we work with our youngest swimmers and older kids who are new to the sport. Our focus is initially on proper body position, basic kicking, breathing and balance in the water, then on fundamental stroke instruction in all four strokes. To deliver this most effectively, we staff these practices with a coach in each lane, providing mostly in-water, hands-on instruction that directly and frequently guides and corrects swimmers to achieve proper technique.

Required Skills:

• Comfortable in deep water.
• Comfortable in a group setting away from parents during practice time.
• 8 and under:
  • Ability to complete one length of the pool in a recognizable stroke, on the stomach and back, without stopping.
  • Ability to be apart from parents during practice time.
• 9 and over:
  • Ability to complete one, preferably two lengths of the pool in a recognizable stroke, on the stomach and back, without stopping.

Practice Frequency: Two (2) 45-minute practices per week

The Orange level covers a range of swimmers, from those who have recently achieved legal form in at least three strokes to those that are competing effectively in 50-yard events. These swimmers tend to be grade school-aged, competing in the 8 and under and 9-10 age groups with some 11-12 age group swimmers as well. They are all working on gaining competence and consistency in their stroke technique while learning additional skills such as turns and breathing strategies as part of multi-lap sets.

Required Skills:

• Be legally proficient in 3 strokes, with an understanding of all 4 strokes.
• Competent starts and turns.
• Complete 4 laps free and a 100 IM, each one must be done continuously without resting at walls.
• Complete a 50 free in under 1:15.
• Complete 3x25s in each stroke in under 0:45.

Practice Frequency: Two (2) 1-hour practices per week

In the Red level, we see the introduction of more performance-based qualifications that a swimmer must meet or exceed to be assessed at this level. Red swimmers are typically older grade school kids that have achieved legal competency in all strokes and are very competitive in their best events. Our focus remains on technique, with emphasis on establishing strong habits of proper form in all strokes over somewhat longer sets.

Required Skills:

• Be legally proficient in all 4 strokes.
• Competent starts and turns.
• Basic pace clock reading skills.
• Be able to hold 4x50s free on 1:15.
• Be able to hold 4x25s in each stroke on 0:40.
• Complete a set of 3×100 free on 2:30 and a set of 3×100 IM on 3:00.
• Complete a 200 free under 3:30.

Practice Frequency: Three (3) 1-hour practices per week

Swimmers in the Purple level are typically older grade school and early middle school kids who have achieved solid competency in all strokes and most events. The focus of the Purple level is on refining technique and building endurance.

Required Skills:

• Grasp of sets and intervals
• Understanding the concept of Distance Per Stroke (DPS).
• Ability to read a pace clock and sets without coach aid.
• Ability to swim continuously for 15 minutes with proper turns at each end.
• Be able to hold 6×50 free on 1:00.
• Be able to hold 4x25s in each stroke on 0:30.
• Hold legal proficiency for 5×50 in all strokes under 1:15.
• Complete a set of 4×100 free on 2:00.
• Complete a set of 4×100 IM on 2:30.
• Be able to complete 200 free in under 3:00.
• Ability to compete in USA IMX event (e.g. 200 free, 200 IM, and 100 stroke distance events).

Practice Frequency: Three (3) 90-minute practices per week

For high school swimmers, the program’s focus shifts to supporting their success in the pool while allowing for flexibility around increased demands from other commitments such as academics, college preparation, jobs, etc. The main focus for this group is equally developing highly advanced stroke techniques and highly advanced training skills.

Required Skills:

• Ability to complete a 90-minute practice.
• Commitment to attending practice regularly.
• Strong understanding of intervals, sets, pace and race strategy, and “swimming language.”
• Ability to compete in 200 free, 200 IM, and 100 stroke distance events.
• Be able to hold 5×100 free on 1:20 or under.
• Be able to hold 5×100 IM on 1:45 or under.
• Be able to hold 6×50 stroke on 0:50 or under.
• Be able to hold 6×50 free on 0:45 or under
• Be able to complete 200 free in under 2:15.
• Read a pace clock and sets without coach aid.

Practice Frequency: Five (5) 90-minute practices per week